Feed mechanism.



.R. L. WILCOX. FEED MECHANISM. APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 14, 191s,

1,105,343. Patented July 28,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTRNE Y R. L. WILGOX. FEED MBGHANISM. APPLICATION TILED FEB. 14, 1913.

' 1 Patented July 28, 1914@ www ATTORNEY It. L. WILGOX. FEED MECHANISM.AYPLICATION FILED EEB, 14, 191.

Patented July 28, 1914 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES:

Nro/mfr wl'T/vEssEs:

R.- L'. WILGQXz EEB@ MBGHANISM'.'

' A PBLIQTLQN FILED PERM. 1913.

` Patented July 28, 1914 4 sBETs-sHnBT 4.

ATTOR/VE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EiCHAnn LESTER wILCoX; or WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, AssrGNon To THEWATERBURY EAREEL roUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY, CEWATERBURY, j

CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

l FEED MECHANISM.

modale Specification of Tletters Patent.

Application filed FebruariY 14, 1913. Serial Nq. 748,367.'

operated upon, by one or more tools; It is f shown and described hereinas applied to a bolttrimming machine, wherein the round heads of blanksare trimmed so as toA make them square, hexagon, or any other desiredshape, as well as to trim ofi' the flash from the underside of the headsof hot forged bolts. It is not limited, however, to such use.

Itis the object of my invention, among other things, toprovide mechanismto perform the operation briefly' described above, that will takeblanksy from the so-called delivery positionand move them in a path atsubstantially a right angle to that through which they traveled toVarrive at said delivery position, as desired, that will be com-..

posed of few'parts, sof designed thatl they may vbe constructed andassembled at the minimum cost, and be positive in their operation solong as nothing abnormal interiercs with-the continuous and smoothrunning thereof, but will yield as soon as any of the parts meet with anobstruction, thereby 'preventing the breakage thereof.

To these, and other ends, my inventionconsists in the feed mechanism,having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, aswill be hereinafter described and-more particularly pointed cut in theclaims. 1

- rReferring to the drawings, in which like numerals of referencedesignate like parts inlthe several figures; Figure 1 is a plan view ofmy improved mechanism as attached to a bolt trimmer; Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof; Fig. Sis an enlarged Plan view of the transfermechanism and the parts adjacent thereto; Fig. 4 is a sectional View oi.the 1 parts shown in Fig. 3, upon. line A--B; Fig. 5 isan elevation ofthe transfermechanism with the parts adjacent thereto; Fig.v 6 is asectional view of the die, die block, and ad- }a cent mechanism, takenupon line C-D of Fig. 8; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the cams and camsleeve, taken upon line E-F of F 1g'. 2; Fig. 8 is an elevation of therock arms; Fig. 9 is a view of the transfer and turn over cams; Fig. l()is a side elevation plan v iew thereof, with the cover removed; andFigs.l2 and 13 are views of a modified 4form of die block, with meansconnected die.

of the bolt trimmingl machine to which my device is applied are wellknown and in accordancewith common practice, and therefore will not bedescribed at length herein, and only referred to when necessary to morecompletely describemy improvements.

Patented Jury as, 1912i.

of the delivery end ofthe chute; Fig. 11 is a` The details ofconstruction and operation therewith for adjusting the position of theAs shown in the drawings, the trimming suitable legs 2, having a crankshaft 3 rotatably mounted therein and driven through a pulley 4 fixedthereto, with a gate 5, carrying a punch 7, slidably mounted in the bedand connected with the crank shaft by a pitman 6.

machine comprises abcd V1 supported upon Y The hopper, from which theblanks" are y delivered is not illustrated as an one of the many formsof hoppers, well known inl the art, with the 'connecting delivery chute,may be used. I have, however, shown here.- in a portion of one'type of`delivery chute, which comprises the side plates 8 and l), that aresecured to the bed by the brackets l() and l1,.so as to leave an openspace l2 Atherebetween for the blanks to pass therethrough on their wayfrom the hopper, angle 1 plate 13 fixed to the plate 9, which extends racross the open space 12 and terminates opposite .the end of the sideplate 8, and the gretaining plugs 14.- mounted in the angle plate 13with their inner ends projecting from the inside thereof, and normallyheld yin such position by thesprings 1,5. r-lhe and the open space 16between the end thereof and the angle plate 13 is substantially the samein width as the space 12.

Attached to'theoutside of the .plate 8 is a a reversible block 17,having the recesses 18 and l?) in the opposite ends thereof. ln theplate 8 is slightly shorter than the plate 9 drawings this'block isshown in the position wherein it is arranged for blanks with longshanks, the recess 19 therein being of greater lwidth than thatof therecess 18 and hence will permit the passage therethrough of Y grippinglingers of greater width than when ,the block is reversed andthe recess18 occupying the present position of recess 19.

' Above the plates 8 and-9 is a cov`er20, having a stop block 21 securedto the inner end thereof, the lip 84 on said block being in the path ofthe head of the blank and in contact therewith when the shank of theblank engages the inner face of the angle plate 13, as shown in Fig. 10,the blank being shown therein by broken lines.

Rotatably journaled in theY box 22 upon one side of the bed 1, is thesleeve 23, having a gear 24 integral therewith at one end and a collar25', with a stop lug 26 thereon, at ythe other end, the said' gear andcollar preventing endwise movement of the sleeve within its journalbearing. Slidably mounted within the sleeve is the spindle 2, having ahead block 28 secured to one en d thereof and a grooved sleeve 29threaded upon its opposite end and`held in its adjusted positions by thecheck nut 30. 'The i head 'block 28 and spindle .27 are held againstrotation independently of the sleeve 23 by the guide pin 31, which issecured to the head block 28 by 'the nut 32. In the outer end of thehead block 28 is a slot 33, within which the inger block is secured bythe' bolt 35. finger block 34 are the lingers 36 that are secured tosaid finger block by the bolt 37 and provided with tips 38 thereon thatprojct inwardly from the end of the finger block 34 toward each other,.leaving an open space `therebetween, which is opposite the notch 39 inthe end of the finger block. The finger tips contact with a new blank inthe open space between the ends thereof, and the lingers lare forcedapart until they have passed over the shank of the bolt', when theyspring inwardly to the positions shown in Fig. 4:, with the shank of thebolt in the notch 39, and held there against accidental disengagement bythe said' finger tips.

Endwise movement imparted to the spindle 27 and the parts connectedtherewith from the transfer cam 40, through the rock arm il that ispivotally mounted upon a stud 42 iixed in the bed 1, and havinga camroll 43 thereon, a-crank arm 45 pivotally mounted upon a stud 4G in abracket i7 fixed to the bed 1, an'adjustable connection 4A connectingsaid rock arm il and crank arm 45, blocks 48 mounted in the yoke end v49 of the. crank arm l5 that enter the groove inthe sleeve 29, and aspring 50' between the.crank arm 4-5 and a pin 51 fixed in lthe bed,that normally holds the cam roll ft?) in contact with the transfer cam4.0. This Upon both sides of the spring provides a yielding member forthe movement of the fingers toward the punch and die, while theirmovement inthe opposite direction is positive, so that if intransferring a blank to the punch and die any part should' becomeclogged, or for anyreason the mechanism does not operate smoothly and inthe usual manner, the Inovef between the sector and the pin 59 fixedinthe bed 1, the said spring normally holding the cani roll 54 incontact with the cam 52. Both the transfer cam L1-0 and turn over cam 52are secured upon a sleeve 7 3 with a pulley 'lt by the key 75, and thesleeve, which is provided with a head 76, is secured to the crank shaftby the key 77. The timingl of the cams necessarily varies with thelength of the blank, and to provide for such variation, with the leastpossible labor,l and to insure a positive reti'ming, I have provided anadditional keyway 78 in the bore of the sleeve 73, and an additionalkey-way 79 in the shaft To change the positionof the cams and the timingthereof' which results therefrom, it isv simply necessary to withdrawthe key T7 from the position shown in the drawings (Figs. 7 and 9) andreplace it in the key-way formed by the junction of the lkey-ways 78 and79. This, it will be noted, does not aliect the relative positions ofthe cams themselves, which are permaj nently secured upon the sleeve 73by the key 75.

Fixed to the bed by the bolts G0, is the die block 61, to which the dieholder (S having the die (Si therein', is securely he d by the clamp 63,The die is preferably cylindrical in form for economy in manufacture,and the opening 65 therethrough is the same shape iii cross section asthat of the finished head of the bolt to be operated upon.

ln mechanism of this character heretofore made, no means have beenprovided for insuring the alinemcnt of the blank with//the openingin thedie, which frequently resulted in an imperfect operation ofthe ma'-chine. rlhe fingers in the old form would soinetinus rotate the boltslightly, as their engagement was being broken with the bolt, or the jarofthe machine, or for"other reasons, the bolt would be thrown slightlyout of alincnient, the result being, that a corner of ioe.

the bolt head would be trimmed ofi", ruin` ing the bolt and placing anexcessive strain upon both the punch and die. I have eliminated thisdiiiiculty by providing means for positively alining the blankXwith thedie, which means comprise, the guide plates G6, having arms 67 integraltherewith projecting laterally upon one side thereof with an angularinner -face 68 near their outer ends. These guide plates are moved bythe springs 70 toward the center of the die until the shoulders 69thereon contact with the die, in which position, the inner edge of theplates are in register with the opposite edges of the opening (square)through the die, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Outward movementor1 theguide plates 66 is limited by the contact of the shoulders 71 with thecaps 72, withdirn which the said guide blocks are slidably mounted. Theheads of the blanks, as they` approach the punch, contact with theangular faces 68 upon the guide plates and rotate within the fingersuntil they register with the opening in the punch. This mechanismpositively alines the blanks and brings them into their true relativeposition with the die without depending upon chance.

It is desirable, `for some asses of work, to hold the die so that it haybe shifted, thereby insuring its positiv alinement with the punch. Ihave devised uchmeans, and have illustrated the same inICigs. 12 and 13-of the drawings.' In thisembodiment of my invention, the bed 1 isprovided with open-' ings of larger diameter than the bolts 60, and thedie block 61. rests upon the end of a lock screw 86 thatis threadedthrough a `lug y87 integral with the bed. An adjusting screw 8S passesentirely through the lock screw 86 and is threaded into said dieblock.The die 64. is mounted in the holder S9, having an ear 90 at one end, inwhich the screw `91 is rotatably mounted, but held against endwisemovement therein by the collars 92. A vertical adjustment is given thedie 34 by first loosening the bolts GO, then the screw 88, and afterwardbringing ituto its true position by rotation of the'lohk screw 86.Gravity at all times holds the die block against the end of the lockscrew. After thedie has been moved to its vertical position, the same ismaintained therein by first tightening the screw 8S and thenA the bolts60. A horizontal adjustment of'the die is obtained by releasing the holdof the clamp 63 upon the die'holdcr 89 and 'then shitting the die holderby the rotation of the screw 91, that is threaded into the die bl'ock(il. The mechanism for alining the position of the bolt head withreference to the opening in the die, heretofore described, is applicablealso to the modified form of die block shown in Figs. 12 and 13,although not shown therein.

,. In operation, the blanks move through the 'ejected from `the diethrou h a knockout.v

delivery chute until they contact with the angle plate 13, shown bybroken" lines in Fig. 11. rIhe fingers, in what is known as the zeroposition, that is, adjacent to the face of the sleeve 33, in therelative position about 70 A the axis of' said sleeve, shown by brokenlines in Fig. 5, move therefrom toward the chute and pass through therecess 19 in the reversible block 17, and engage the shank of the blank,the finger tips passing over the blank, 75

which enters the notch 39, as above described. The fingers carrying thevblank now move away from the delivery chute, the plugs 14 yieldingsuficiently to allow the blank to pass thereby, until the -blank is en-30 tirely free from the chute, when the sleeve and the fingers arerotated to the position substantially shown by full lines in F ig. 5,wherein the axis of the bolt lies substantially parallel with the axis.of the punch and die. 85

The fingers now move toward the punch and die carrying the blanktherewith until its axis is coincident with that of both the punch anddie, the position of the head-of the blank in relation to the punch,being recti 9e fied during the last portion of this movement by themechanism above described. At

this, time, the punch moving toward the die l encircles the blank, andwhen it has a sufficient hold upon it, the fingers are withdrawn. 95

The punch continues its movement and forces the head of the blank intothe die where it is trimmed'as desired. During the". return movement ofthe punch, the blank is 1 mechanism that is usual in t is type of xnapin80, which is acted upon by al lever 81 that is pivotally secured by apin 82 to the nected therewith, and tothe gate. After` leaving the-diethe blanks dro) into a re-k ceptacle conveniently arrange to receivethem.

There are minor changes and alterations' 110 that can be made within myinvention, aside from those herein suggested, and I would therefore haveit understood, that I' vdo not limit myself to tht A exact constructionherein shown and described, but claim all that falls u fairly withinthe'spirit and scope of my invcution as set forth in theappendedaclaims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, isz- Y 1. In combination with a blank support andoperating tools; a feed mechanisnfrfon' transferring blanks 4from saidblank supportto said operating tools-comprising carrying fingers,reciprocating mechanism, t 125 which said fingers are attached, andmeans for operating said fingers, whereby the,V ini-l tial incrementthereof, after Said fingers have engaged said' blank, 1s at an angle tolthedircction of movement of the blanks .130'

FEI)

within the blank support, and the final movement of said fingerswitlrsaid blank is in a path substantially parallel with said initialmovement, but in the opposite'direction.'

, 2. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a die; of a`delivery chute; means for transferringblanks from said delivery chute to said punch; and means' for insuringthe positive alinement of said blanks with the opening in said die.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a die;of a delivery chute; means for transferring blanks from said deliverychute to said die; and means for positively alining the heads of saidblanks with the opening in said die, said means acting upon said blankduring the transfer movement thereof from the delivery chute.-

t. In a device of the character described, the combination with a die;of a blank support; means for trans'lirring blanks Withy angular headsfrom said blank support to said die: and means, in thel path traveled bysaid blank to the die, for rotating said blank about its axis whileengaged by said transfer means when the angular sides of the headthereof are not parallel With the angular sides of the opening iiithedie, so that said head will register iviththe opening in said die, atthe completion oil-'said transfer increment.

The combination with a die; of guide plates movably mounted adjacentthereto, having faces thereon that lie opposite each other and in linewith opposite faces of the opening in said die, said parallel facesflarj outwardly away from said die and forming a throat therebetweenWider than the space between the oppositefaces of the opening in saiddie.

G. The combination with aA die; of coinpanion guide plates movablymounted upon opposite sides of said die, having lateral arms thereonthat are straight for a portion of their length and flare outwardly atone end thereof spring means for moving said plates in one direction;andineans, as a stop for 'limiting the movement of Said guida plateswhen the said straightportions therel of are in line with one side ofthe opening in said die.

7. In a device of the character described, thecombinatien with a die; ofa delivery chute; transfer fingers for carrying blanks from saiddelivery chute to said die, said fingers grasping the shank of ytheblank vfhile in said delivery chute and moving the saine therefrom in apath at substantially a right angle to the movement of the blanks in'Isaid deli verv chute; means for rotating said fingers witlithe blanktherein substantially 9Go; and means for moving said lingers after "saidrotation vthrough av path siibr rotation but in the opposite direction,to a point where the blanks are brought into register with the opening'in said die.'

8. In a device of the character described, the combination With a die;of a delivery chute; and means for transferring blanks from saiddelivery chute to said die, said means comprising a sleeve held againstrotation eXcept.about its axis, a spindle held stantially parallel withthat prior to -said against rotation Within said sleeve, fingers.

connected With said spindle, means for imparting'. a reciprocatorymovement to said spindle, and means for imparting a' rotary: movement tosaid sleeve about its axis.

9. In a Vdevice of the character described, the combination With a die;of a delivery chute; and means for transferring blanks from saiddelivery chute to said die, said means comprising a sleeve held againstro-.A tation except about its axis, means for ini-- parting a partialrotation to said sleevey atA predetermined periods about its axis, aspindle held against rotation Within said sleeve, carrying lingers'connected with said spind` e, and means' for imparting ap1u-- rality ofreciprceatory movements of 'varying lengths te said spindle.

l0. Tn a device of the character described, the combination with a die;of a delivery chute; a sleeve; a spindle Within said sleeve; means forholding said spindle'against ro-,

tation Within said sleeve; a head block conm Y nectcd with said spindle;lingers connected with said'head block; cam actuatedmeans for impartinga rotary movement to said sleeve and through it to4 said lingers; and

'camactuated means forimparting. a reci roeatory movement to saidspindle'withln.

said sleeve, f

ll. in a device of the character described, the combination 'with a die;of a delivery. chute; a sleeve; a spindle Within said sleeve; means forholding said spindle against roe` tation within said sleeve; a headblock con- `ected with said spindle; fingers conn vctied with said headblock; a rotary shaft; am actuated means for imparting a rotary movementto said sleeve and Athrough it to said fingers ;.cam actuated4 means forimparting a reciprocatory movement to said spindle'within said sleeve;and means for separably connecting said cams to said shaft, whereby theymay be secured in various positions about the axis thereof and at Ithesame time occupy the same relative positions with each other.

l2. ln a device of the character described,

the combinationy n a die`- ofQa delivery' clin e; a sleevea spindle Witl,iin said sleeve; means for holding said spindle against'rotation withinsaid sleeve; aiiead block connected with said spindle; `fingersconnectedwith said head bloclrl.; a rotaryshaft; dam actuated means for impartinga rotary- 'movement to said sleeve and through it to saidfingers; camactuated means for imparting a reciprocatoiy movement to said f spindlewithinsaidsleeve; a sleeve to which 'said `Canis are secured; land meansfor seouringsaid sleeve in various positions about the axis of saidshaft without affecting the relative positions ,of said cams upon saidsleeve. y v l y 13. The combination with a rigid part; of a die block;and means for adjustably securing said die block to said rigid part,coniprising one or more bolts passing through openings in said rigidpart of greater diameter than said bolts, a lock screw thread-A ed insai/d rigid part and abutting against I said die block, and an adjustingscrew threaded into said die vblock for holding said die block againstsaid .lock screw.

14. The combination'with-a rigid part;

of a die block; ymeans for adjustably secur-V ing said dieblock to saidrigid part, com-l prising one or more bolts passing through openings inAsaid lrigid part of greater diameter than said bolts, a lock screwthreaded in said rigid part and abutting against said die block, and anadjusting screw threaded into said die block for holding said die-blockagainst said lock screw; a

die holder; and means for adjustably securing said die holder in saiddie block.

15. In a`device 'having a blank ,supportf A and operating tools, thecombination therestantially a llingers so as to with of a feedmechanismhaving fingers', mechanism for advancing the fingers in substantially aright line toward said operating 16. In a device havingl a blank supportland operating tools, the combination therewith of a feed mechanismhaving fingers, mechanism for advancing the fingers in subright linetowardthe blank support and ythe operating tools, for withdrawing thefingers in substantially a right.

line with a blank and ina direction away from the blank support andoperating tools,L

' for oscillating the fingers sol as to turnthe blank substantially 90after the completion of tlieAcsairl withdrawing movement, and forcariyin the fin ers with the blank in substantial y a rig t. line, afterhaving been turned,0, beyond the blank support, and deliver the sametothe operating tools. r

17. In' a device having a blank support with of a feed' mechanism havingfingers, mechanism for advancing thefingers in substantially a rightline toward'the blank support to engage ablank, for withdrawing thefingers in substantially a right line with a blank, for, oscillating thefingers so as tol `and operating tools, the combination tliere- Y turnthe blank substantially 90, and for'.

carrying the fingers with the blank in substantially: a ,right line,after having been turned 90, said oscillation, taking *place at thetermination of the withdrawing movement and before the 'commencement ofthe succeeding right line movement.

18. In a ldevice' having a blank support and operating tools, thecombination therewith of a feed.V mechanism having lingers, mechanismfor advancing the fingers in substantiallya right line toward the blanksupportto engage a blaiik,'for withdrawing the fingers in substantiallya rightl line with a blank, for, oscillating the fingers so as Lto turnthe blank in substantially 90, and for carrying the fingers with ytheAblank in substantially a right line, after having been turned 90,thesequence of said movements 'being such that during the last right line'movement the blank passes the blank support where the fingers first'engage the blank, with the axis thereof in a plane substantially 90from that occupied by it while in said-blank support.

10. In a device, having a blank support and operating tools in twodifferent planes, the combination therewith of feed mechanisin for adevice having fingers; mechanism Jfor advancing "the fingers from a zeroposition, in substantially a right line in a direction toward-- saidoperating tools and blank support to engage a blank, for withdrawingsaid fingers in substantially a right line with a blankto said zeroposition, for oscillating said fingers with the blank at the terminationof, said withdrawing movementv so that the aXis Aof `said blank issubstantially parallel with the plane ofthe operating tools, forcarrying the fingers, afterthe completion of said oscillatory movement,in substantially a right .line beyond the blank support where the ngersfirst engaged the blank and de@ liver the said blank to the said,operating tools. i

In testimony whereof I 'aix my in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD LESTER WILCQX.

Witnesses:`

signature

